Fall/Winter 2016-2017

AP/EN 3176 3.0A (F) Comics and Cartoons I Course Director: Jordana Greenblatt Delivery Format: Lecture + Tutorial Time: Lecture: Tuesdays, 8:30am ‐ 10:30am Tutorial 1: Tuesdays, 10:30am ‐ 11:30am Tutorial 2: Tuesdays, 11:30am ‐ 12:30pm Tutorial 4: Tuesdays, 10:30am ‐ 11:30am Tutorial 5: Tuesdays, 11:30am ‐ 12:30pm Tutorial 6: Tuesdays, 12:30pm ‐ 1:30pm Description: From The Yellow Kid in the late 19th century to the Cold War moral panic about comics and the introduction of the Comics Code, the comics and cartoons we study in this course reflect, affect, and were affected by American social and political attitudes through the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. We will pay special attention to the relationship between comics and American culture, exploring the influence of political, social, and intellectual movements on comics. Our investigations will cover surreal newspaper comics (Little Nemo, Krazy Kat), early superheroes (, , Miss Fury, ), work by early women in comics (Golden Eyes, Miss Fury, Patty‐ Jo ‘n’ Ginger), and a selection of the SciFi, horror, and war comics that so concerned 1950s politicians and lawmakers. The comics and cartoons we will explore engage with issues relevant to the America of their times—the two World Wars, the changing role of women and attitudes towards gender, issues of race and/or class, prohibition, and a range of other contemporary concerns. Through studying American comics of this era, we will learn to understand and analyze the unique attributes of the medium, while investigating the ways in which various comics creators reflected and/or challenged the attitudes and issues of their day.

Category: D Area: NA Period: NA Historical Requirement: NA Requirements: Mid‐term test (25%) 2000‐2500 word research essay (30%) Final exam (30%) Participation/Contribution to tutorial (15%) Reading List: Books and course‐kit are available from the YorkU bookstore. Some comics must be purchased through comixology.com. Some of the material is available online. Please note that you will need the course kit.

Bookstore: Herriman, George. Krazy & Ignatz, 1922‐24: At Last My Drim of Love Has Come True McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art . Course Kit [indicated throughout the syllabus], includes secondary readings by various authors, as well as comics by Nell Brinkley, Jackie Ormes, and Tarpé Mills. Online [indicated throughout syllabus]: Various comics, including The Yellow Kid, Little Nemo in Slumberland , and a range of SciFi, Horror, and EC Comics. EComics [indicated throughout syllabus] available from Comixology: Siegel, Jerry and Joe Shuster. Superman Chronicles, Vol 1. Various issues of early comics [specified in the syllabus], including Batman, Detective Comics , and Sensation Comics

Open To: Yr2, Yr3 and Yr4